A while back (5 years ago) when I started this journey, I set a long term goal for myself based on the information I had come across related to weight loss. I started out at 200+ pounds. I donít know exactly how heavy I was because I refused to get on the scale for a long time. I refused to take pictures of myself because I didnít want to see how bad I looked. My husband, as wonderful as he is, married me at my heaviest 5 1/2 years ago.

After a long road, Iíve made it down to my ...

A while back (5 years ago) when I started this journey, I set a long term goal for myself based on the information I had come across related to weight loss. I started out at 200+ pounds. I donít know exactly how heavy I was because I refused to get on the scale for a long time. I refused to take pictures of myself because I didnít want to see how bad I looked. My husband, as wonderful as he is, married me at my heaviest 5 1/2 years ago.

After a long road, Iíve made it down to my current weight of between 132-135lbs and have been able to maintain it (not my intention) since joining Spark in March 2009 and during the hardest year of my life.

Some of you may already know, but my mother (my best friend) passed away June 2009 after a 2 Ĺ year battle with stage 4 breast cancer. Her strength during this time was incredible. She was always a very strong woman raising me and my younger sister pretty much by herself.

She was put on chemo and it was successful. The doctor looked and me and said ďyou understand how serious this is and she will never be curedĒ. I knew that but remission was good enough for me. She came off chemo and was put on a daily prescription to keep the cancer at bay. It didnít work, so back to chemo right after Christmas 2008.

The cancer grew immunity to the previous chemo so it was switched 3 times and nothing worked. She went into the ER on April 29, 2009 and after about 3 weeks was then transported to a hospice care facility where she passed away.

I finally came out of my ďfogĒ of operating on auto pilot and taking care of all everything being the executor and trustee in August 2009 and went back to the gym. I decided to continue the remaining part of my journey and start taking care of me.

So, I started going to the gym when I could, taking all kinds of classes. I discovered I could run and enjoy it for the first time in my life. I trained and ran my first 5K the Susan G. Komenís Race for the Cure in Oct 2009 in memory of Mom. I was addicted so I signed up and trained for my first 10k on Thanksgiving Day and changed the tradition in my family. We will all run the turkey trot this year Ė Yeah!

Iíve also completed my first 14k on Feb 13th and have my first Ĺ marathon on March 21st. And it doesnít stop there. In April Iím flying out to Boise with MSWEESER and SEKSUNSHINE to meet up with KATMOMMA3 and together we will participate in the hardest Ĺ marathon in the northwest Ė the Race to Robie Creek. I've also signed up for another 10K in May and a 1/2 marathon in August.

Although Iím not at all proud of the puny weight loss over one yearís time, Iím made great accomplishments in other aspects. And Iíve made some really awesome Spark friends. So 2010 will be my year to complete what I started years ago and be in the best and healthiest shape a 41 year old can be in!